• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.445-453
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• 2007

The purposes of this study lie on understanding characteristic water-rock interaction mechanisms of groundwater in the Geochang, Hapcheon, and Changryeong areas and establishing correlation between geological factors and groundwater chemistry by statistical tools. Based on the statistical results from the relationship between rock types and groundwater chemistry, fluorine is correlated with Fe and Al in the diorite area, whereas it is correlated with Cl and $NO_3-N$ in the andesite area. Hardness, total solids, and $SO_4$ show that they are closely related to each other in all rock types, especially with highest relationship in sedimentary rocks. Although it is generally acknowledged that TDS increases with depths of aquifer due to the long term water-rock interaction, no remarkable relationship between well depth and water chemistry is found in this study. It appears that hydrogeological system in the study area may be complex or the path of water-rock interaction is inconsistent with well depth.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.5-14
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• 2018

The grain size of clastic sedimentary rocks classifies the rock types and also causes of anisotropy of the rock. The anisotropy is one of the most important factors that dominates the strength and weathering behavior of rocks. The anisotropy of clastic sedimentary and igneous rocks in the Gyeongsang Basin including Yeongju, Daegu, and Busan were analyzed by magnetic susceptibility expressed by the degree of anisotropy and shape parameter. As the results of the study, the sandstone deposited under lacustrine environment unaffected by the external force shows 1.03 degree of anisotropy. The degrees of anisotropy of the rocks affected by faults and fault rocks show 1.06 and 1.14, respectively. The magnetic susceptibility of rocks is to decrease with the distance from the fault. A fresh mudstone and shale formed by fines show a similar magnitude of the degree of anisotropy to fault rock and correspond to oblate shape parameter due to their sedimentary structure. Due to these reasons, we need attention in design, construction, and maintenance of a structure constructed in mudstone and shale.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-252
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• 2016

This study presents a methodology to reproduce the mechanical behavior of isotropic or transversely isotropic rock using the polygonal grain-based distinct element model. A numerical technique to monitor the evolution of micro-cracks during the simulation was developed in the present study, which enabled us to examine the contribution of tensile cracking and shear cracking to the progressive process of the failure. The numerical results demonstrated good agreement with general observations from rock specimens in terms of the behavior and the evolution of micro-cracks, suggesting the capability of the model to represent the mechanical behavior of rock. We also carried out a parametric study as a fundamental work to examine the relationships between the microscopic properties of the constituents and the macroscopic behavior of the model. Depending on the micro-properties, the model exhibited a variety of responses to the external load in terms of the strength and deformation characteristics. In addition, a numerical technique to reproduce the transversely isotropic rock was suggested and applied to Asan gneiss from Korea. The behavior of the numerical model was in good agreement with the results obtained in the laboratory-scale experiments of the rock.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.220-234
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• 2016

Sprayable waterproofing membrane has been considered as a substitute for a sheet waterproofing membrane in a variety of underground excavation works. However, fundamental properties of sprayble waterproofing membrane have not been fully given yet. In this study, a new two-component sprayable waterproofing membrane prototype was developed. In addition, its physico-mechanical properties were measured and compared with those of two kinds of thin spray-on liners where constitutive materials and construction methods are very close to each other. From direct tensile tests, the sprayable waterproofing membrane with elongations at break between 250% and 300% showed much higher ductility than TSLs. However, the sprayable waterproofing membrane had a limitation as a support member since its bond strength and loading capacity was lower than those of TSLs. From three-dimensional X-ray CT images, the porosity of the sprayable waterproofing membrane was estimated to be 26.13%. However, most of pores which might have been generated during membrane curing were not observed to be interconnected but isolated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.469-479
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• 2021

As a material for preventing spalling of concrete, the effectiveness of PP fiber has already been confirmed. However, it is necessary to consider the maximum temperature that occurs during a fire, and to solve the mixing problem and the strength reduction problem that occur depending on the mixing amount. In this study, the fire resistance performance of tunnel segment linings according to the PP fiber content and air volume under the RABT fire scenario was investigated. As a result, no spalling or cross-sectional loss occurred in all test specimens, and when the PP fiber content was small, the maximum temperature was relatively high and the maximum temperature arrival time was also fast. On the other hand, no trend was found for the maximum temperature and arrival time according to the difference in air volume. In the internal temperature distribution results for the PP fiber mixing amount of 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg/m³, the results of 0.75 and 1.0 kg/m³ showed similar temperature distribution, and the results of 1.5 and 2.0 kg/m³ were similar. It was confirmed that the internal temperature distribution tends to decrease at the same depth when the amount of PP fiber mixed is large, and it was confirmed that a remarkable difference occurred from the results of 1.0 kg/m³ and 1.5 kg/m³ of PP fiber mixed amounts.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.363-372
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• 2022

Precast concrete is an effective method to increase the construction quality and construction speed by optimizing and making the manufacturing conditions similar. In order to more effectively produce a fireproof material-integrated precast duct slab, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the fire resistance performance of the fireproof layer is maintained when a method of increasing the curing rate using a hardening accelerator is used. As a result of performing a fire resistance performance test on specimens classified according to whether or not the hardening accelerator was included, increase of temperature inside the specimen was high in the specimens using the hardening accelerator, and the section loss of the fireproof layer occurred locally on the surface exposed to fire heating. In conclusion, it is judged that the fireproof layer in the case where the strength at 3th day of age is gained within 1 day curing age using a hardening accelerator does not guarantee sufficient fire resistance performance in the conditions used in this study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.594-609
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• 2023

TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) method is gaining popularity in urban and underwater tunneling projects due to its ability to ensure excavation face stability and minimize environmental impact. Among the prominent models for predicting disc cutter life, the NTNU model uses the Cutter Life Index(CLI) as a key parameter, but the complexity of testing procedures and rarity of equipment make measurement challenging. In this study, CLI was predicted using multiple linear regression analysis and tree-based machine learning techniques, utilizing rock properties. Through literature review, a database including rock uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength, equivalent quartz content, and Cerchar abrasivity index was built, and derived variables were added. The multiple linear regression analysis selected input variables based on statistical significance and multicollinearity, while the machine learning prediction model chose variables based on their importance. Dividing the data into 80% for training and 20% for testing, a comparative analysis of the predictive performance was conducted, and XGBoost was identified as the optimal model. The validity of the multiple linear regression and XGBoost models derived in this study was confirmed by comparing their predictive performance with prior research.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.519-533
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• 2023

In this study, the linear cutting tests of pick cutters were carried out on a granitic rock with the average compressive strength over 100 MPa. From the tests, the correlation between the cutter acting force and the temperature measured by infrared thermal imaging camera during rock cutting was analyzed. In every experimental condition, the maximum temperature was measured at the rock surface where the chipping occurred, and the temperature generated in the rock was closely correlated with the cutter acting force. On the other hand, the temperature of a pick cutter increased up to only 36℃ above the ambient temperature, and the correlation with the cutter force was not obvious. This can be attributed to the short cutting distance under laboratory conditions and the high thermal conductivity of the tungsten carbide inserts. However, the relatively high temperature of the tungsten carbide inserts was found to be maintained. Therefore, it is recommended that a reinforcement between the insert and the head of a pick cutter or the quality improvement of silvering brazing in the production of a cutter is necessary to maintain the high cutting performance of a pick cutter.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.357-367
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• 2018

Recent earthquakes in Gyeongju and Pohang have raised interest in liquefaction in South Korea. Liquefaction, which is a phenomenon that excessive pore pressure is generated and the shear strength of soil is decreased by repeated loads such as earthquakes, causes severe problems such as ground subsidence and overturning of structures. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and prepare for the possibility of liquefaction in advance. In general, the possibility of liquefaction is quantitatively assessed using the Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI), but it takes a lot of time and effort for performing site response analysis which is essential for the liquefaction evaluation. In this study, a simple method to evaluate the liquefaction potential without executing the site response analysis in a downtown area with a lot of borehole data was proposed. In this simple method, the correlation between the average shear wave velocity of the target location ground and the LPI divided by thickness of liquefiable layer was established. And the applicable correlation equation for various rock outcrop accelerations were derived. Using the 104 boreholes information in Seoul, the correlation equation between LPI and the shear wave velocity (ground water level: 0m, 1m, 2m, 3m) is obtained and the possibility of liquefaction occurrence in Seoul and Gyeongju is evaluated. The applicability of the proposed simple method was verified by comparing the LPI values calculated from the correlation equation and the LPI values derived using the existing site response analysis. Finally, the distribution map of LPI calculated from the correlation was drawn using Kriging, a geostatistical technique.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.847-870
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• 2023

The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste requires accurate predictions of the long-term geochemical behavior of radionuclides. To achieve this, the present study was conducted to model geochemical behaviors of uranium (U), plutonium (Pu), and palladium (Pd) under different hydrogeochemical conditions that represent deep groundwater in Korea. Geochemical modeling was performed for five types of South Korean deep groundwater environment: high-TDS saline groundwater (G1), low-pH CO₂-rich groundwater (G2), high-pH alkaline groundwater (G3), sulfate-rich groundwater (G4), and dilute (fresh) groundwater (G5). Under the pH and Eh (redox potential) ranges of 3 to 12 and ±0.2 V, respectively, the solubility and speciation of U, Pu, and Pd in deep groundwater were predicted. The result reveals that U(IV) exhibits high solubility within the neutral to alkaline pH range, even in reducing environment with Eh down to -0.2 V. Such high solubility of U is primarily attributed to the formation of Ca-U-CO₃ complexes, which is important in both G2 located along fault zones and G3 occurring in granitic bedrocks. On the other hand, the solubility of Pu is found to be highly dependent on pH, with the lowest solubility in neutral to alkaline conditions. The predominant species are Pu(IV) and Pu(III) and their removal is predicted to occur by sorption. Considering the migration by colloids, however, the role of colloid formation and migration are expected to promote the Pu mobility, especially in deep groundwater of G3 and G5 which have low ionic strengths. Palladium (Pd) exhibits the low solubility due to the precipitation as sulfides in reducing conditions. In oxidizing condition, anionic complexes such as Pd(OH)₃^-, PdCl₃(OH)₂^-, PdCl₄^2-, and Pd(CO₃)₂^2- would be removed by sorption onto metal (hydro)oxides. This study will improve the understanding of the fate and transport of radionuclides in deep groundwater conditions of South Korea and therefore contributes to develop strategies for safe high-level radioactive waste disposal.